Flower power turns heads

Mr White said the orchid pink shrub, which has a 6ft spread, is a traffic stopper in his Halesowen street.

The retired sheet metal worker is also an artist and has painted more than 500 pieces, but is yet to capture his camellia on canvass.

He said that over the years the flower, which is the variety known as Camellia Donation, has attracted a lot of attention.

The pensioner said: "I live near a junction and whenever the buses stop at the traffic lights I can see passengers looking at the camellia.

"Everyone who passes remarks on it because the size of the blooms are terrific and there are just so many you can't count them all. It has become a local landmark."

The camellia was planted about 1973 and was bought from a garden centre in Newquay when Mr White and his wife Eileen were on holiday.

Mr White, a keen gardener who was also a member of the National Rose Association, said the bloom had flowered every year since he planted it.

"I suppose you could say I'm quite green-fingered," he added.

"Camellias need an acid soil and like to be sheltered from the morning sun otherwise it nips the buds and I think I planted mine in just the right spot.

"Normally they flower from the end of February but it is a bit late this year and I think that was due to the cold winter snap.

"When I used to go to the afternoon tea dances I would take a bunch of camellias to the ladies."

After having a heart attack in 1976 Mr White took up painting as a hobby and has staged eight exhibitions at Halesowen Library.

His works have featured everything from classic cars to steam engines and animals to birds.

At the moment he is painting a picture of some mallard ducks as depicted on a postcard but he said it was about time he drew his prized plant.